Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 68 - Morning
It's not everyone's favourite time of day, but the morning has provided inspiration to many composers. Here is a small selection. Don't fret if your favourite is missing. A second week of Morning tunes has been prepared and will come along soon.
Monday June 28
Good Morning
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. Cinema does not come any better than this.
Recording
Tuesday June 29
Carolina in the morning
Carolina in the Morning is a popular song with words by Gus Kahn and music by Walter Donaldson, first published in 1922.
Here is Judy Garland (also born in 1922) singing the song in 1955, aged 33. I rather like this version.
Recording
Wednesday June 30
Morning Dance (from Romeo and Juliet)
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891 – 1953) was a Russian Soviet composer, pianist and conductor. His music for the ballet Romeo and Juliet was first composed in 1935. It was substantially revised for its Soviet premiere in early 1940. Prokofiev reused music from the ballet in three suites for orchestra and a solo piano work.
Recording
Thursday July 1
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
By the Time I Get to Phoenix is a song written by Jimmy Webb. Originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965, it was covered by American country music singer Glen Campbell on his album of the same name. It is also on an album I recorded for Judy (at her request) on the occasion of her 40th birthday.
Recording
Friday July 2
Tosca Act 3 (first part)
Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini which premiered in Rome on 14 January 1900. After the drama of the previous scene, Act 3 opens quietly at dawn. A shepherd boy is heard singing offstage, as church bells sound for matins. The guards lead in Cavaradossi and a jailer informs him that he has one hour to live. He asks permission to write a letter to Tosca. He begins to write, but is soon overwhelmed by memories. He sings E lucevan le stelle (And the stars were shining). This is one of Puccini's great arias sung by one of the greatest tenors ever.
This recording of the first part of Act 3 runs for 14 minutes.
English captions are available. Use 'settings' and 'subtitles'.
Recording
Frank Sinatra Weekend July 3/4
Two songs that I played over and over on my car's cassette player while driving to and from college in the 1970s. I just love the songs, especially sung by Sinatra.
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning is a 1955 popular song composed by David Mann, with lyrics by Bob Hilliard.
Recording
Little Green Apples
Little Green Apples is a song written by Bobby Russell. Originally written for and released by American recording artist Roger Miller in 1968. "And I wake up in the mornin' ....."
Recording
Another week of 'morning songs' to come soon.
Good Morning
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. Cinema does not come any better than this.
Recording
Tuesday June 29
Carolina in the morning
Carolina in the Morning is a popular song with words by Gus Kahn and music by Walter Donaldson, first published in 1922.
Here is Judy Garland (also born in 1922) singing the song in 1955, aged 33. I rather like this version.
Recording
Wednesday June 30
Morning Dance (from Romeo and Juliet)
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891 – 1953) was a Russian Soviet composer, pianist and conductor. His music for the ballet Romeo and Juliet was first composed in 1935. It was substantially revised for its Soviet premiere in early 1940. Prokofiev reused music from the ballet in three suites for orchestra and a solo piano work.
Recording
Thursday July 1
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
By the Time I Get to Phoenix is a song written by Jimmy Webb. Originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965, it was covered by American country music singer Glen Campbell on his album of the same name. It is also on an album I recorded for Judy (at her request) on the occasion of her 40th birthday.
Recording
Friday July 2
Tosca Act 3 (first part)
Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini which premiered in Rome on 14 January 1900. After the drama of the previous scene, Act 3 opens quietly at dawn. A shepherd boy is heard singing offstage, as church bells sound for matins. The guards lead in Cavaradossi and a jailer informs him that he has one hour to live. He asks permission to write a letter to Tosca. He begins to write, but is soon overwhelmed by memories. He sings E lucevan le stelle (And the stars were shining). This is one of Puccini's great arias sung by one of the greatest tenors ever.
This recording of the first part of Act 3 runs for 14 minutes.
English captions are available. Use 'settings' and 'subtitles'.
Recording
Frank Sinatra Weekend July 3/4
Two songs that I played over and over on my car's cassette player while driving to and from college in the 1970s. I just love the songs, especially sung by Sinatra.
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning is a 1955 popular song composed by David Mann, with lyrics by Bob Hilliard.
Recording
Little Green Apples
Little Green Apples is a song written by Bobby Russell. Originally written for and released by American recording artist Roger Miller in 1968. "And I wake up in the mornin' ....."
Recording
Another week of 'morning songs' to come soon.